Rangers in 4
Last year when these two met it was the Rangers upsetting the top seeded Rays
in five games, as Cliff Lee frustrated the Rays twice, with the road team winning
all five games in the series. The Rangers do not have Cliff Lee this year,
but with a strong year from C.J. Wilson and Derek Holland the Rangers did not
miss a beat winning the AL West for the second straight season. The Rays on the
other hand needed a miracle to reach the postseason, taking full advantage of
the Red Sox collapse. The Rays could be a magical team of destiny, with their
seven run comeback in the season finale. However, the Rangers have a strong line
up that could beat up on the Rays tired pitching staff that had to do a lot of
stressful pitching down the stretch. I don't expect this to be a road series
this year as the Rangers have broken the bad vibes in the postseason in Arlington,
in the end the Rays will get a win, but it will be clear the Rangers are the
better team as they win this series rather easily.

Predictions Made 9/30/11 at 12:05 am ET

Yankees in 5
This should be a good series from start to finish. On one side you have the
Yankees power packed lineup on the other side you have the Tigers led by Justin
Verlander the best pitcher in the majors in 2011. During the season the Tigers
won four of seven meetings, as four games were in Detroit. However, with all
seven games coming in the first five weeks of the season, it is impossible to use
them as a measuring stick for the ALDS meeting. The key for the Tigers is obviously
Justin Verlader, who may be a chance to pitch twice in this series. If
he Tigers are to win they will need their ace to be at his best. The Yankees will
equally need a good effort from their ace CC Sabathia who will square off against
Mr. Verlander in the series opener. Ultimately this series will come down
to match ups. Both teams have strong closers and will have a chance to make the
games last eight innings. The Yankees middle relief is a tad better with David
Robertson. In the end this is where the series will be won, and the Tigers lack
of a strong left hander in the lineup, rotation and bullpen will be their undoing
as the Yankees win a hard fought series in five games.

Phillies in 4
This is a series the Phillies could be vulnerable in, as they lost six of nine
during the regular season, as the Cardinals provide some difficult match ups
for the Phillies. However, one should be careful to put too much into the regular
season numbers, as the Cardinals won three or four games in September after
the Phillies were securely in the postseason, while the Cardinals needed every
win to overcome an eight and half game hole in September to beat out the Braves
for the Wild Card. The Phillies do have a ton of pressure on them, as they have
had the World Series or bust mission on them all season long. The pitching
of the Phillies led by Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, who has a successfully postseason
history will be the key of this series as they will be able to shutdown the
Cardinals lineup. The Phillies also hold the important edge in the bullpen,
which at times has been a weakness in St. Louis. This could be the toughest NL
match up for he the Phillies who all season have been the best team in baseball
all season and will be the team to beat in the playoffs.

Brewers in 5
The Arizona Diamondbacks are the biggest surprise of the eight teams in the
MLB Postseason as they finished in last place last season and lost 97 games. Many
experts picked them to finish at the bottom of the National League West again
this year. The D-Backs turnaround was due in part to their pitching led by Ian
Kennedy who will start Game 1, after a breakout 21-4 season. With 57 wins at
Miller Park, the Brewers were the best team at home in the majors this season.
The Brewers have the homefield advantage in this series, and it could be one of
those series where the home team wins all five games. The Brewers with Prince
Fielder and Ryan Braun have the hitting advantage, and also hold an advantage
in the bullpen with John Axford, the NL's top closer leading the way. I will be
surprised if this series does not go the distance, and with Game 5 in Milwaukee
I see the Brewers going to their first appearance in the League Championship
Series, when they were still in the American League.